B LOWN Merc 488

[V. David Schwantes]

I have a 1983 4Winns... it's always been underpowered... but it is still a beautiful boat... problem is: a few weeks ago the engine gave up... dead... goner... my marine guy says it'll cost $16,000 to get a new engine and all the other things needed... that'll give me a 225HP V6... an upgrade from the underpowered 4cyl I had... love the boat... hate the cost of $16,000... given that it's a 1983 boat, if I had to sell it in a year or two, i wouldn't get much of the $16,000 back...

live in MN... boat is up on the Canadian border but could be pulled back to MPLS

What would you do? Appreciate any advice... thanks

 

[stonyloam]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

Putting $16,000 in that boat would be well.... nuts. Look on e-bay or craigs list for a complete 4.3 engine and just put it in. You should be able to do it for 5-6000 for a nice engine. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, bet you could hire someone that knows what they are doing for a few hundred dollars. You would have to have front mounts fabricated, but the outdrive should be right (you had a 470 type engine right? 1:84 ratio?). Or look for another 470, and drop it in 3-4000 max for a good one.
p.s. am talking about good sound recently rebuilt engines here, a take your chances used one would bw WAY less.

 

[Old Yeller Boater]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

I'm sweating spending $3-4K on my 87 Larson. I gotta doubt any 83 boat is worth sinking that much into. What model is it?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

Read this article (not my own words) from this site:
http://www.perfprotech.com/store/articles/mercruiser-470-replacement.aspx

Question: What's the best direction to go when replacing the old Mercruiser 3.7L/470 engine?

Unfortunately there is no single good option for this looking at a complete re-power. The 470 engine was an engine developed by Mercury Marine specifically for it's purpose; to power boats. The inline configuration allowed for easy draining, a single intake/exhaust manifold was cheaper than two, etc. The engine was also a large displacement engine for its size and therefore made a tremendous amount of torque because of the stroke and displacement. On top of this Mercury utilized their die casting expertise to produce a light weight aluminum block and combination with the existing Ford cast iron 460 cylinder head.

To go up in Hp you will have to go with the typical V-Configured 350 engine which will also require a different drive ratio and propeller. With any changeover to the V engine configuration be it V6 or V8 this will also require completely rebuilding the stringer system in your boat. Many customers ask about replacing the 470 engine with the current 3.0L engine since they are also are an inline configuration. The problem with this is that the 3.0L makes approximately 135 Hp & 180 Lb-Ft of torque where the 470 made 190 Hp and approximately 275 Lb-Ft of torque. The 3.0L engine is simply too small and does not make enough torque.

Therefore the prevailing direction for 99% of boat owners in this position is to go with the remanufactured 470 longblock. The remanufactured longblocks are of a very good quality and have a 24 month warranty. This is important versus rebuilding realizing this was not a standard automotive product and therefore most local rebuild shops do not have the experience to produce a comparable, good quality product.

They actually sell reman long blocks as well the link is at the bottom in the link I posted above.

So I would research to ensure the 4.6 has the torque as well, the torque will get you up on plane faster.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

That is a pretty decent price for a reman 470. Go with that and you will probably have less than $4,000 in it and be back on the water in a week or two.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

A 30 year old 1983 model boat isn't worth putting any money into unless you just want a classic or it has some sentimental value. Cut your loses and buy a boat with the desired configuration. The newer models have conveniences and structural designs that are a large improvement over older models.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

I have a 1983 4Winns... it's always been underpowered... but it is still a beautiful boat... problem is: a few weeks ago the engine gave up... dead... goner... my marine guy says it'll cost $16,000 to get a new engine and all the other things needed... that'll give me a 225HP V6... an upgrade from the underpowered 4cyl I had... love the boat... hate the cost of $16,000... given that it's a 1983 boat, if I had to sell it in a year or two, i wouldn't get much of the $16,000 back...

live in MN... boat is up on the Canadian border but could be pulled back to MPLS

What would you do? Appreciate any advice... thanks

Howdy,


I agree, replacing that engine and drive with a brand new engine and drive would be completely "nuts".

If you could do it yourself, installing another good used engine and drive would be "do'able" though. (I bought a 1997 454/Bravo III with 120 hrs for $5000 in 2006 and replaced my OMC King Cobra with it)

You would however, need to ensure that your transom, stringers floor , are not rotten etc.... In 1983, your boat most probably came with a variety of optional engines from the 3.0L 4cyl to the wonderful 3.7L, 4.3L v-6 up to and including the 5.0/5.7L V-8's etc.


On the other hand, I looked at used boats in the Boattrader. I searched 1990-2000 model year boats 18-20ft in length and $4000-5000.

I found 84 nation wide.

You would be far better off to part out your engine and drive for as much as you can and either just buy another boat or find a donor (damaged) boat with the engine and drive you want.

AVOID any boat with OMC anywhere in the ad, and most of us would suggest not getting another boat with a 470/3.7L engine unless you you're very familiar and able to do all the maintenance yourself (and you like "pain"!! :facepalm


Good luck


Rick

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

The market is flooded with 470 motors. The bottom line is your mechanic does not want to deal with it (really no one does).

Do you know the specifics of how it is blown? Is there a rod through the block? A cracked block or head? A piston that broke? I am too cynical and think that was the easy answer from a mechanic.

You could probably find another 470 block but honestly big dollars into an older boat would not be wise. You have a dilemma on your hands. I would lean towards another block ....get it running and then place it up for sale.

Your motor was rated at 190 hp and the manifold set-up alone will fetch big money.

 

[Bondo]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

I have a 1983 4Winns... it's always been underpowered... but it is still a beautiful boat... problem is: a few weeks ago the engine gave up... dead... goner... my marine guy says it'll cost $16,000 to get a new engine and all the other things needed... that'll give me a 225HP V6... an upgrade from the underpowered 4cyl I had... love the boat... hate the cost of $16,000... given that it's a 1983 boat, if I had to sell it in a year or two, i wouldn't get much of the $16,000 back...

live in MN... boat is up on the Canadian border but could be pulled back to MPLS

What would you do? Appreciate any advice... thanks

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Are You, yerself gonna do any of the work,..?? the Labor to make it Happen,..??

Or ya just haulin' the boat to somebody, for a turn-key pickup at a later date,..??

If I Loved the ole barge,....
I'd hit craigslist, 'n every classified in yer travel area...
Find a 350/ Alpha 1, or Gen.II, Runnin' but with a Rotten hull...
Do a diagnostic on it before ya buy it...
Then buy it, 'n Junk it out...

Ya oughta be able to find a good solid driveline for under $3500.00....
with ALL the little tiny, Super Expensive pieces ya always find out ya need, 'n don't have.....

'ell,... I occasionally see BBC/ Bravos go for 5 Grand or less...

 

[V. David Schwantes]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

Yeah... agree $16,000 would be nuts... shouldn't I upgrade the engine though... a 4.3 would be the same "underpowered" thing wouldn't it?... I think I can get a rebuilt 4.3 from MercCruiser for about $5,000... don't know what you mean by "470-type" engine... stern drive unit gear ratio was 1.84:1... please explain the difference between the 4.3 and the 470... my engine was a 4 cyl.. 188HP... 4.38 bore... 3.75 stroke... Model 488...

thanks for your help

 

[V. David Schwantes]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

yeah... think you're right... it was a Model 488... if I do put another engine in, don't you think I should get a 6 cyl with more HP?

thanks

 

[V. David Schwantes]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

Thanks to all for your comments... seems like a consensus: do NOT put $16,000 into a 1983 boat...

Seems also like the thoughts are to use a rebuilt motor and 'take my chances'...

I'm not smart enough to do the work... I do still have the old Model 488 manual...

Having trouble with the language too... terms I don't know: driveline, block, 470 block, 3.0L... etc.

I had 188HP and 4 Cyl... 1.84:1 stern drive gear ratio... that wasn't enough (even the motor did survive for 30 years)... should I get more HP? if so what kind of rebuilt engine would you suggest... and how much of the other stuff would be needed?

Sorry... I'm one of these guys that just turns the key and hope it starts... though I did keep the manuals...

Thanks again...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

I'm not smart enough to do the work... I do still have the old Model 488 manual...///////////////////

Having trouble with the language too... terms I don't know: driveline, block, 470 block, 3.0L... etc.///////////////////


Sorry... I'm one of these guys that just turns the key and hope it starts... though I did keep the manuals...

Thanks again...

Well, in view of the above, I would lean to spending your money on another different good RUNNING boat that doesn't have a Mercruiser 470 or an OMC engine/drive.

 

[Bondo]

Re: B LOWN Merc 488

Originally Posted by V. David Schwantes
I'm not smart enough to do the work... I do still have the old Model 488 manual...///////////////////

Having trouble with the language too... terms I don't know: driveline, block, 470 block, 3.0L... etc.///////////////////


Sorry... I'm one of these guys that just turns the key and hope it starts... though I did keep the manuals...

Thanks again...

Well, in view of the above, I would lean to spending your money on another different good RUNNING boat that doesn't have a Mercruiser 470 or an OMC engine/drive.

Ayuh,...... I can't disagree with ya Rick,....

Dave,.... Sell it for whatever you can get for it, 'n let it go.... don't expect much,...

Go find yerself another newer boat, that Runs...
Then hire a marina with a maintenance contract, to keep it runnin'....